How can I communicate with deaf people effectively???

Question

I work as a supervisor in a manufacturing factory. I always have to pass on information and give instructions to the workers as well as train them. On the other hand they have to report their job to me in paper form and in speech. Inside the factory, there are a lot of deaf workers. I find a difficulty to communicate with them effectively. Of course I don't know sign language. Some of them are very low educated or even never attend to any former school. They cannot understand any kind of language even their own mother tongue. Thus I can't even write those information on a piece of paper to let them know my notices. I never look down on them or refuse to communicate with them. May be some of them feel inferior about themselves, they refuse to communicate and cooperate with me. I want to treat them friendly instead of using my authority to force them to do the jobs. Can anybody tell me how to communicate with those deaf workers effectively?

Answer 1

Learn sign language. And try not to treat them like you are better than them, nobody is better than anyone else. I know alot of people that may be book smart and went to college, but that doesn't mean they have common sense!!

Answer 2

It sounds like you really want to do what is right. I applaud you for that.

1 - Make the attempt to learn sign language. It is not that hard and there are many books on it.

2. - See if there are any of the employees who are deaf that could act as an intermediaray. If they have a good communitcation format for working with their other workers perhaps they could be the conduit you could use for communication.

3 - You may be on the right track about selfesteem issues where the deaf employees are concerned and by taking the time to understand them you are creating a bridge that will possibly bring them to a place where they are not ashamed and are willing to try harder to communicate.

My ex husband was deaf and had about a 2nd grade grasp of education and vocabulary. We communicated though and he had a good job as a maintenance worker.

Don't give up . People who are willing to try are the ones who succeed.

Answer 3

Short of learning sign language: Always look at them when you speak, but stand so that they get a view of your face from a side angle. Perhaps they read lips. This will better enable them to see your lips in motion and figure out what you are trying to say. Use gestures while you speak, but don't exaggerate them.
Forget the psychoanalysis. They just don't hear you. If the problem persists, be proactive about it by contacting your superiors with the issue and ask them for resolution. Working in manufacturing can be dangerous if communication is ineffective.
Good luck.

Answer 4

The longterm solution is to learn sign language. However, you need to be able to communicate effectively now. Perhaps choose 1 or 2 of the deaf workers who have no issues with your written communication and promote them as team leaders who are responsible for communicating and supervising those under their watch. It would save you a lot of time and frustration and would be well worth the raise you give them.

Answer 5

Please take the time to learn sign language or their native language, if you are working with a group of immigrants from a certain locale. Even if you are only speaking English, they may have learned to read lips enough to be able to understand your basic message. Be sure to face them squarely whenever speaking with them. Sign language can be useful even among hearing workers in a noisy factory. Although my sister and I can hear just fine, we will use sign language to communicate secrets, or even across a noisy room. My sister had learned to sign because she had a hard of hearing coworker. Then she got me interested enough to learn too.

Have you suggested to your management that the company sponsor sign language training for all employees? Even someone who speaks another language can learn and understand American sign language. It will also help them to learn spoken and written English. The basic hand signs are often self-translating in that they have the same meaning across many languages. This training could even be on the job, so the workers would see immediate benefits of understanding their tasks better.

Lastly, there is always the hands on, show as you go approach. This can be tedious and time consuming, but sometimes you have no other choice.

Answer 6

learn sign language. If you can get them to do the job, you can get them to understand you one way or another. I'm sure there is some kind of government assistance for this, too.

Answer 7

On the other hand, take up sign language

Deaf people can be verbally abusive in a disturbing way.
1st hand experience

Answer 8

Speak louder, but clearly. Speak slower and use hand gestures to emphasize points you want to make, and make sure you're face to face with the people you're talking with. Enunciate every syllable so that it's easier for them to hear, and speak calmly. If all fails, use universal codes (Or drawings!) To communicate.

Answer 9

Try to start an educational program for them.

Answer 10

learn the sign language and be polite,attentive and friendly.